Michaela Merritt

For Michaela Merritt, teaching has always felt like a calling—but it wasn’t until she joined the Hybrid Education Residency Opportunity (HERO) Registered Apprenticeship Program at Virginia State University (VSU) that she truly found her stride. A native of Williamsburg, Virginia, with a heart for helping students thrive, Michaela began her apprenticeship between her junior and senior year in 2024. What she gained in that single year changed her life.

“I always believed I could do this work,” Michaela reflects, “but the apprenticeship gave me the confidence to prove it to myself.”

Stepping Into Purpose

After completing the academic requirements to graduate, Michaela was ready for more than just a classroom lecture—she was ready for the classroom itself. The HERO program provided her with a path forward: paid, hands-on teaching experience in Petersburg City Public Schools, the kind of opportunity that brought her face-to-face with the students she most wanted to serve.

“I needed a change,” she says. “I was ready to stop being just a student and start helping the kind of kids I really care about. When I found out we’d be working in Petersburg, I knew it was exactly where I needed to be.”

What followed was a year of intense growth—not just as a teacher, but as a communicator, time manager, and emerging leader. As someone who describes herself as shy at first, Michaela had to adjust quickly to the pace and pressure of professional teaching. She juggled her senior year academic responsibilities at VSU with the demands of managing a real classroom—often on little sleep but with unwavering drive.

“I’ve learned to ask for help,” she admits. “This program showed me it’s okay to lean on others—and that’s helped me push myself harder.”

Support, Stability, and a Clear Path Forward

Michaela credits the HERO program not only with giving her professional experience but also with providing financial stability and a community of support, including regular instructional support from VSU supervisor, Dr. Aretha McNeil. “It helped me afford things like a car and insurance,” she shares. “And I always had people like Dr. McNeil in my corner, guiding me through the tough days.”

Though the program is demanding and sometimes left her feeling disconnected from campus life, the structure and mentorship it offered kept her grounded—and moving forward.

“HERO is a family,” she says. “We support each other. You’re never alone.”

Advice for Aspiring Apprentices

Michaela is quick to encourage other education majors to take the leap into Registered Apprenticeship. “Don’t be scared,” she advises. “It will challenge you—but that’s how you grow. You’ll be shaping young lives and building a future for yourself at the same time.”

And for those who worry about logistics or not feeling “ready,” she offers this wisdom: “Don’t let the little things stop you. You’ll learn more in one year of apprenticeship than in any classroom.”

A Transformed Teacher—and Person

Looking back on her year in the HERO program, Michaela sees how far she’s come. “I started the year confident and excited, thinking I had it all figured out,” she laughs. “But I got humbled quickly—and I’m better for it.”

She’s emerged from the experience more prepared, more self-aware, and more committed than ever. “Now, I know I’m exactly where I need to be. This is my purpose.”